Tom Blair comments on the impact of Project 25

Street wise: Project 25, the collaborative United Way project to end chronic homelessness in San Diego, is aiming first at the most frequent users of publicly funded emergency services. And it’s making quick headway since its launching a little more than a year ago. Brian Maienschein, who heads the project, offered a report card last week. So far, 17 of the hardest cases are housed and in rehabilitation programs, and the proof of success is in the numbers. Maienschein says the cost to society for each of the chronic homeless is in six figures. When you break it down, it adds up. In the past year, he says, those 17 homeless accounted for 348 ambulance rides, 402 ER visits, 464 inpatient services and 741 jailings. That’s $4.2 million a year for the 17, or roughly $250,000 each. “We can take them off the streets,” he says, “for $40,000 to $50,000 each.” ........read more